Prestigious high school Sydney Science College at Epping in liquidation
A prestigious senior high school specialising in science and technology education in Sydney’s northwest has gone into liquidation. Here’s what we know.
A prestigious senior high school specialising in science and technology education in Epping is set to close.
Sydney Science College (SSC) is a specialist STEM school for students in year 11 and 12 and is ranked among the top schools in the state for HSC results and ATARs in 2023 and 2024.
The Beecroft Rd college was placed into liquidation last week with the closure date yet to be announced.
However this publication understands it will remain open for the rest of the school year.
A NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) spokesperson said this year’s students were being supported to sit their HSC exams as scheduled.
“Options are being considered to best support Sydney Science College students who will continue their schooling next year,” the spokesperson said.
“Our priority has been, and continues to be, the wellbeing of students, particularly HSC students sitting their exams beginning this week.
“We are seeking the assistance of the school sectors to enrol students in neighbouring schools.”
Former student Nicolas Louw, of Mosman, was a 2022 graduate and attributes his current success – being in his third year studying advanced mathematics and computer science at UNSW – to his time at Sydney Science College.
He said he left his previous school due to a lack of “passion for learning”.
“I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do or which university I was going to attend. I was kinda lost,” the 20-year-old said.
“I fell in love with a lot of things at SSC that I thought I didn’t enjoy doing. I rediscovered math.”
Mr Louw said the teachers at SSC were extremely passionate, caring and capable with full PhDs. He said hearing about the closure came as an unpleasant surprise to him.
“It was honestly a complete shock to me,” he said. “It’s really horrible to be honest, being in that first cohort, I learned so much about myself, academics and life. Things my previous school hadn’t taught me.
“I think it’s hard to break into that schooling system that’s so entrenched with these elite private schools and heritage selective schools, but I thought SSC was doing something good. I was optimistic for them, so it’s hard for me to see it happen.”
Mr Louw’s mother Natalie Louw said she was “devastated” to hear that SSC was closing down as it was “a gift” to families in the area.
“It was a remarkable school that saw my son excel academically, and he developed a curiosity and love for learning that was sorely missing at his previous school,” she said.
“It gave academic students a place to develop and mature. That’s not always readily found in many schools. I will be forever grateful to the cohort of teachers who supported Nicolas to reach for his goals with hard work and determination.”
Epping local Ty, who didn’t wish to give his surname, said when the school opened, he didn’t know it was a science-based school.
“I thought it was some sort of tutoring venue. That’s a weird place to have a school,” he said. “It’s a non-conventional concept in my opinion.”
NESA has been engaging with the SSC and the liquidator, who have both been contacted by the publication.
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